Batman Beyond: Return of the Scarlet monster
Chapter 1: Silver Moon
50 Years later…
Bruce sat at his desk, as usual. Old and grey haired. Wearing his old black suit and grey shirt underneath, waiting for Terry to arrive. It seemed like yesterday, he was Batman, waiting for Scarlet to get her mask on. She always took her time. She always wanted to look good in case she had a run in with anyone from the Justice League or Virgil. Though she never cared what her hair did. He could never understand why she wasted some much time on her face but not her hair. Those seem like happy times to him. Training and taking care of her, knowing that one day she was gonna leave. Even if he won't admit it to anyone else, he missed her so much. She was like one of his own. Even though he adopted her from illegal grounds. Knowing her father was still alive, but he just wasn't there. Looking back reminded him of his research on his cure for her immortality. He quickly typed in a few codes and looked into his locked file on "Cerberus". He remembered that he started it the day Scarlet returnedfrom breaking up with Virgil. He will never forget how broken up she felt.
Flashback
Batman briskly looked over the recorded records on mythology creatures and gods. Ignoring the drink Alfred offered him. He would look over at Scarlet to see any change in her position. Nothing. She was like a still statue crying relentless tears that streamed down her face. He knew that it would be hard for her to let go, but if she stayed, the outcome would have been terrible. "Scarlet, I know that you are hurting, but you did the right thing. If you stayed, it would've just made it harder." She didn't look at him or say anything. All she did was nod her head and continue to stare at the black caves that surrounded them. Batman didn't know what to do to make her feel better. He knew how to make his 'Lady friend' feel better, but he didn't know how to comfort his adopted daughter. He turned his attention back to the giant computer screen and scanned over the report on Cerberus. "Find anything?" She finally left her frozen stance and stood behind his chair, reading over the typed work of the ancient Greek. "Nothing on Cerberus except for him being a three head demon dog that guards the gates of Underworld. He was also known as the collector of those who somehow made their way out of the river of Styx. He would devour those who even stuck their arms out. I'm surprised he didn't get a promotion." Scarlet reread the text, but there was nothing on how he lived or what his power was. Usually, the Greek would have descriptive reports on their views on the underworld, but yet they had little on Cerberus. If he was so terrible, why aren't there anymore notes on him? "That's it? That can't be it? Are you sure you looked up all of the records?" Batman slowly nodded his head. Scarlet moved away from his chair, holding her head in her hands. There was no way out of this. Nothing at all. "Then I'll be like this forever." Batman pondered for a minute. If there were cures for any kind poison, it was always hard to find if the poison hardly exist. He rose out of his chair and walked over to his solution table full of beakers with the 'Anti-Joker' serum, the Scarecrow cure, and Poison Ivy's elixir. "Maybe, if I had a sample of your blood, I can find a solution that can reduce the immortality affect. But I'm not sure if that will help." He waited for her response. He would understand if she was scared to take a risk at being somewhat normal. Scarlet was immortal, but she could be injured or worse killed. But still, it was her decision. Scarlet walked slowly over to him and held out her arm. "I've got nothing to lose. Besides, I'm gonna be here forever." She gave him her famous 'Lets do it!' smiles. He knew she would try anything once.
End flashback
From that day on, he would test her blood with different solutions. Hoping that one of them would work, but they never did. He would never give up. He couldn't. He was the only one that Scarlet could turn to. To help her with this predicament, even after Alfred died, he kept looking. As he finally accessed his file, the computer compiled any chance of a temporary cure or anything he could use. Five minutes passed before the scan was complete. "Terminated" the computer said. Nothing could bring her out. Nothing. The sound of the clock moving pulled him out of his trans. Followed by rushing footsteps. He was late and he knew it. Ace barked twice running up to him. "You're late" All he saw was a small smile that was placed upon his face. Terry was about 17. Wearing his usual brown leather jacket, with his black shirt to match his dark blue cut jeans. His hair was still black but it was a little longer. Carrying his old purple backpack. He will never find something new to take care of his Bat suit. Terry made his way over to the computer. "What's this?" Terry saw the word Cerberus and looked the name Scarlet. "Who's Scarlet?" Bruce pressed one of his chair buttons and the screen went black. "No one you need to know about…. Yet" Terry just shrugged his shoulders and quickly suited up. "Any news on the 'Bang Babies'?" Bruce shook his head. The Bang Babies were a group of teenagers that were exposed by the big bang that happened in Statics city. But now that Static has been cracking down on them, they've been causing more troubles over in Gotham. "None that the police have reported. Might want to scout the south side just in case." Terry walked out of his one changing area and placed his black mask over his head. "Sure." Terry ran over to his Batman mobile and took off, leaving old Bruce to make a private call. He waited patient for the other line to pick up. When heard the small click of the tone, a female voice came from the other line. "Hello? Who's this?" He smiled to himself. Hearing her was like he was alive again. "Scarlet?" He heard a small gasp escape her lips. "Daddy? Is that you? Really?" He laughed to himself, keeping his humor to himself. "Yes, Sam. I need you to come home. Now would be nice." He could hear grunts and distant noises on the other line. "Of course, anything for you. I'll see you soon." And with that, she was gone. Now, all Bruce had to do was continue his search for a cure. Hopefully, during this time, it will be easier.
Terry found that having to cover the whole south side would take all night. He would have no time for Dana. Not again. This was fourth time he stood her up. He thought that she would've dumped him by now. He looked up at the moon. Silver as the rattling ring on a married woman's hand. He thought that being with Dana would actually make him happy, but all she wanted to do was go out clubbing and going to the newest dance club that opened up every Tuesday. She was more of a party girl than a girl that would like to listen to him sometimes. Sure she did listen to him, but sometimes she would let in one ear and out the other. To be honest, it drove him crazy. No wonder they broke up 37 times. He wondered what it was like to have someone that would listen and want to spend time with him, other than spending time at a dance club. He was broke out of his daydream from his ring of his phone. He took it out and looked at who was calling, "Dana." Of course she would call. He didn't want to answer, but he knew if he didn't, he would get it at school. So, he pressed the answer button and wait for screaming to begin. "Hello?" He knew it was coming. "Where are you? I've been waiting for like an hour." Terry sighed. "Dana, I'm sorry. Mr. Wayne got me working late. I'm not gonna be able to make it in time." He heard her sigh in irritation. "Terry, this is the 4th time you have been working overtime. When is he gonna give you a break?" Terry didn't know what to tell her. "I don't know, Dana. I don't know." He heard another sigh from the other line. "Look, Terry. I don't think this is gonna work anymore. You're hardly ever awake during school, you're never wanting to go dancing anymore and when you say you're gonna be there, you're not. I'm sorry, but it's over." She was gone. It was over. He'd never get another chance with her again. At least he had some creeps to bash in to take his mind off his break off with Dana. Suddenly, he heard a woman scream. He quickly flew over to the woman. Seeing two over grown Bang Babies overwhelm her. "Leave me alone. I'll give you whatever you want, just don't hurt me." They smiled. The wheels in their heads turned as they grabbed the young woman's arm. "Is that so? Well, you won't mind if we remove this shirt of yours." He reached for her shirt and grabbed the helm, only to be grabbed and thrown by the Batman. "Maybe you'd rather pick someone more that's your type, tubby." The other charged at him, grabbing his throat and tossing him into a car. Terry could hardly focus. He could see 4 figures walking towards him. But his vision was restored and he saw two figures approach him. "Hey! Check it out, Bubba. It's Batman." Bubba smiled. His big hand engulfed Terry's body. "Let's see what he looks like on the inside, Screw" Bubba began to squeeze Terry's body. Air was being forced out of him. He could feel his arms give out. He tried to get free of his grasp, but nothing he did lessened his forceful grip. "He's still breathing, Bubba." He laughed even louder and applied more pressure. Terry could feel darkness surround him. This was it. Death's embrace. Then a bolt of pure energy struck Bubba. It was too great that Bubba released Batman. As screw turned, ready to tear the one that stricken his brother down to bits, he gasped to see the one that chased them out of Dakota. Streaked of blue and yellow, the one the only, Static Shock.